Pets Central Hong Konghttps://www.pets-central.com/hk
Care from the heart!Tue, 21 May 2019 01:50:01 +0000en-UShourly1My cat is 10 but suddenly behaving badly, such as climbing on the kitchen counter to steal food. Is there a reason she has suddenly become like this?https://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-cat-is-10-but-suddenly-behaving-badly-such-as-climbing-on-the-kitchen-counter-to-steal-food-is-there-a-reason-she-has-suddenly-become-like-this/
https://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-cat-is-10-but-suddenly-behaving-badly-such-as-climbing-on-the-kitchen-counter-to-steal-food-is-there-a-reason-she-has-suddenly-become-like-this/#respondTue, 23 Apr 2019 07:28:50 +0000http://www.pets-central.com/hk/is-it-better-to-feed-my-dogs-once-a-day-or-twice-a-day-copy/

Ask the Vet: 我的貓十歲了，但最近牠開始變得很不乖，例如會爬到廚房檯上偷食物，有甚麼原因使牠變得這樣嗎？| My cat is 10 but suddenly behaving badly, such as climbing on the kitchen counter to steal food. Is there a reason she has suddenly become like this?

DR. PAULINE SAYS: I’d be concerned that at 10 years of age, your cat has a disease or deficiency in her body & the amount of food you feed her isn’t enough to satisfy her needs nowadays. As we get older, we develop inefficiencies in many parts of our bodies, the digestive system being one area. Assuming you haven’t changed her food type, & she has safe & easy access to what you feed, & it’s not being stolen by another pet, I’d check her weight for losses weekly, deworm her, increase the amount of food being fed in her feeding bowl by 10-20%/day, and monitor the behavior response. If stealing food continues, she needs a health check.

]]>https://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-cat-is-10-but-suddenly-behaving-badly-such-as-climbing-on-the-kitchen-counter-to-steal-food-is-there-a-reason-she-has-suddenly-become-like-this/feed/0Is it better to feed my dogs once a day or twice a day?https://www.pets-central.com/hk/is-it-better-to-feed-my-dogs-once-a-day-or-twice-a-day/
https://www.pets-central.com/hk/is-it-better-to-feed-my-dogs-once-a-day-or-twice-a-day/#respondTue, 09 Apr 2019 17:04:04 +0000http://www.pets-central.com/hk/is-it-safe-for-my-cat-to-drink-cows-milk-copy/

Ask the Vet: 我應該一天餵一次狗，還是兩次？| Is it better to feed my dogs once a day or twice a day?

DR. PAULINE SAYS: In wild dog packs, dogs get fed when they catch prey. They usually eat 2-3 times/week. They glutton & overeat, then relax & sleep. With our pets we ‘think’they would like to eat when we do. We train them to expect food from us & make it very easy for them delivering food to their food bowls, no hunting required. In fact dogs in theory should be fed only when they really are hungry. Obesity is one of the most common medical problems in our pet dogs. We overfeed them. Environmental enrichment to ease boredom is a reason to feed dogs more frequently.I recommend dividing the daily amount of food & use food dispensing toys instead of two meals/day, and feed a main meal only once/day. In reality however it actually depends on your own dog &normally when he is genuinely hungry he will eat.Unless of course he is a Labrador….who are always ready to eat!

Q&A with Dr Pauline Taylor, BVM&S MACVSc

DR. PAULINE SAYS: Nutritionally cats do not get anything special from cow’s milk. Milk is really just a high calorietreat for them. In addition cow’s milk is loaded with more lactose [sugar] and casein [ protein] than most cats can handle. Cats’ bodies after weaning do not have the same ability to break up the sugars & proteins in milk, they do not have an enzyme called lactase in their gut, & as a result the ingested milk sugars can cause diarrhea, bloating and farting in cats drinking cow’s milk. I really don’t recommend you feed your catscow’s milk.

]]>https://www.pets-central.com/hk/is-it-safe-for-my-cat-to-drink-cows-milk/feed/0When bringing in a dog from the UK, what are some changes in climate to consider and how can I help my dog settle in?https://www.pets-central.com/hk/when-bringing-in-a-dog-from-the-uk-what-are-some-changes-in-climate-to-consider-and-how-can-i-help-my-dog-settle-in/
https://www.pets-central.com/hk/when-bringing-in-a-dog-from-the-uk-what-are-some-changes-in-climate-to-consider-and-how-can-i-help-my-dog-settle-in/#respondFri, 25 Jan 2019 04:52:53 +0000http://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-leopard-gecko-has-been-taking-several-days-to-shed-his-skin-instead-of-just-one-is-he-just-getting-old-or-could-something-be-wrong-copy/

Ask the Vet: 如果我從英國帶狗來的話，在氣候的轉變上有甚麼需要留意？以及，我能怎樣讓牠適應新環境？| When bringing in a dog from the UK, what are some changes in climate to consider and how can I help my dog settle in?

Q&A with Dr Pauline Taylor, BVM&S MACVSc

DR. PAULINE SAYS: Bringing a dog into HK from the UK, a much cooler less humid climate, is preferablydone at the cooler times of the HK year. Keepyour dog in environmental temperaturesbetween 20-24C & walk your newly imported & appropriately vaccinated dog at cooler times-’dusk or dawn’ ensuring you have preventative parasite controls in place. HK has a variety of parasites & diseases not common or unknown in the UK that can kill dogs especially those imports with no natural local immunity in place.

]]>https://www.pets-central.com/hk/when-bringing-in-a-dog-from-the-uk-what-are-some-changes-in-climate-to-consider-and-how-can-i-help-my-dog-settle-in/feed/0My leopard gecko has been taking several days to shed his skin instead of just one. Is he just getting old, or could something be wrong?https://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-leopard-gecko-has-been-taking-several-days-to-shed-his-skin-instead-of-just-one-is-he-just-getting-old-or-could-something-be-wrong/
https://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-leopard-gecko-has-been-taking-several-days-to-shed-his-skin-instead-of-just-one-is-he-just-getting-old-or-could-something-be-wrong/#respondWed, 16 Jan 2019 04:29:20 +0000http://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-rabbits-had-babies-recently-but-when-i-went-into-the-cage-today-they-were-gone-do-rabbits-eat-their-own-children-copy/

Ask the Vet: 我的豹紋守宮用了好幾天來脫皮而不是一天，是牠年紀大了還是出甚麼問題了？為甚麼？| My leopard gecko has been taking several days to shed his skin instead of just one. Is he just getting old, or could something be wrong?

Q&A with Dr Pauline Taylor, BVM&S MACVSc

DR. PAULINE SAYS: The normal time for a leopard gecko to shed its skin is about 24 hours, so if yours is taking longer something could definitely be wrong. I’d look very carefully at the temperature & humidity in your terrarium because if it’s too dry you will need to add moisture. Also make sure rocks are available so your gecko can rub against them to help remove dead skin. In addition, ensure he has appropriate nutrition at all times.

]]>https://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-leopard-gecko-has-been-taking-several-days-to-shed-his-skin-instead-of-just-one-is-he-just-getting-old-or-could-something-be-wrong/feed/0My rabbits had babies recently but when I went into the cage today they were gone, do rabbits eat their own children?https://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-rabbits-had-babies-recently-but-when-i-went-into-the-cage-today-they-were-gone-do-rabbits-eat-their-own-children/
https://www.pets-central.com/hk/my-rabbits-had-babies-recently-but-when-i-went-into-the-cage-today-they-were-gone-do-rabbits-eat-their-own-children/#respondWed, 02 Jan 2019 06:35:46 +0000http://www.pets-central.com/hk/since-our-older-cat-died-recently-our-younger-cat-seems-to-have-a-new-personality-why-is-that-copy/

Ask the Vet: 我的兔子最近生了小兔子，但我今天打開籠子的時候發現小兔子們都不見了。兔子會吃牠們的孩子嗎？為甚麼？| My rabbits had babies recently but when I went into the cage today they were gone, do rabbits eat their own children?

Q&A with Dr Pauline Taylor, BVM&S MACVSc

DR. PAULINE SAYS: In one word, yes, they do! Rabbits are prey animals, easily stressed with a natural instinct for personal survival. So if they are worried that they may become prey they will do whatever it takes to survive, including eating their own offspring. Although not common it’s normal. If you want them to have offspring then I suggest you review their husbandry, nutrition and read up about kindling/giving birth.

Ask the Vet: 我們較年老的貓死後，年輕一點那隻貓的性格好像變了。為甚麼？| Since our older cat died recently our younger cat seems to have a new personality. Why is that?

Q&A with Dr Pauline Taylor, BVM&S MACVSc

DR. PAULINE SAYS: Cats can definitely change & show a different personality after another cat in the same home environment passes away. They come out of their ‘shell’ and act quite different. Their behavior changes & usually for the good. Cats, like humans, live in social groups that don’t all get along with each other. When one cat dies the one left behind can change becoming a much more sociable cat, happy without stress from a fellow feline.

]]>https://www.pets-central.com/hk/since-our-older-cat-died-recently-our-younger-cat-seems-to-have-a-new-personality-why-is-that/feed/0Our dog has been really down since our 13-year-old retriever died. What can we do to raise her spirits?https://www.pets-central.com/hk/our-dog-has-been-really-down-since-our-13-year-old-retriever-died-what-can-we-do-to-raise-her-spirits/
https://www.pets-central.com/hk/our-dog-has-been-really-down-since-our-13-year-old-retriever-died-what-can-we-do-to-raise-her-spirits/#respondTue, 11 Dec 2018 10:56:45 +0000http://www.pets-central.com/hk/holiday-hazards-copy/

Ask the Vet: 我們的狗在我們十三歲的金毛尋回犬死後情緒一直很低落，我們能怎麼樣令她精神一點？| Our dog has been really down since our 13-year-old retriever died. What can we do to raise her spirits?

Q&A with Dr Pauline Taylor, BVM&S MACVSc

DR. PAULINE SAYS: From my own life experiences I believe that our pet dogs and cats mourn the passing of other family members including their own species. I recommend whenever possible let a pet view and spend time with a deceased family member. Let them know their friend has died. Don’t keep them wondering “why” their friend never came home one day. Talk to your dog and tell her what happened. If you have the ashes of your retriever please introduce them to your dog and see if that helps ease her pain.

Ask the Vet:Holiday Hazards |假日危機

Q&A with Dr Pauline Taylor, BVM&S MACVSc

At holiday and festival times there are many goodies around that can cause hazards for our pets. Most visits to emergency veterinary treatment clinics are caused by things dogs or cats eat.

Holiday goodies include many foods with a high fat content. These are wonderful for causing upset tummies. Raisins, grapes and onions are toxic to our small pets leading to blood abnormalities and renal failure.

Sweet items that contain artificial sweeteners can be toxic and chocolate leads to seizures and heart problems.

Flowers and plants are also dangerous to our pets. Lilies, all parts of them, are FATAL to cats causing renal failure, mistletoe causes diarrhoea and the ever present poinsettia in abundance around us at present can cause mild irritation to lips and mucous membranes in addition to gastroenteritis.

Anxious animals perhaps upset by the “going-ons” around them may turn to objects to chew to release their stress. A form of displacement behavior. These can include cables and cords belonging to festive lights or lanterns, paper, candles and coming up to CNY even Lai See packets! The problem with the laisee packets is that you also loose the contents of the laisee into your pet’s digestive system so be extra careful with them.

When strangers come around, and in particular if your dog or cat isn’t used to visitors, it is a good idea to shut your pet out the way in a safe room or cage/basket. They will be much happier and you can relax too.

And remember as the weather gets colder our pets feel the difference in temperature too. They can get hypothermia so they need warm shelters at all times and fresh clean water every day. Finally be sensible letting pets access other potential poisons, cleaning detergents and miscellaneous chemicals you may use. The classic one, uncommon I’m pleased to say in HK, is anti-freeze which attracts animals to lick it leading once again to renal failure.

Hopefully if you keep these hazards in mind and away from your pets you will all have a great holiday season.

]]>https://www.pets-central.com/hk/holiday-hazards/feed/0Is it safe to have an exterminator spray for bugs while my pets are in the house?https://www.pets-central.com/hk/is-it-safe-to-have-an-exterminator-spray-for-bugs-while-my-pets-are-in-the-house/
https://www.pets-central.com/hk/is-it-safe-to-have-an-exterminator-spray-for-bugs-while-my-pets-are-in-the-house/#respondFri, 16 Nov 2018 10:20:52 +0000http://www.pets-central.com/hk/our-10-year-old-cat-has-started-drinking-a-lot-more-water-is-it-her-age-copy/

Ask the Vet:“Is it safe to have an exterminator spray for bugs while my pets are in the house?” “當寵物在家時，請人來滅蟲安全嗎？”

Q&A with Dr Pauline Taylor, BVM&S MACVSc

DR. PAULINE SAYS:

I would not recommend exterminators spray while your pets are at home. I would advise you remove all pets from your house and keep them away for a few hours, overnight if possible & certainly for birds. Make sure you tell the exterminators in advance that you have pets at home as they may vary what chemicals they use in their spray.
我不推薦在寵物在家的時候請人來噴滅蟲劑。我建議你可以將寵物帶離家中幾小時，如果可以的話，第二天才帶回家中更好。而雀鳥類則必須要過一晚後才帶回家。緊記要在滅蟲的人來之前通知他們家中有寵物，因為他們可能會選用不同的滅蟲劑。